Lid counterbalance mechanism

ABSTRACT

A counter balance mechanism including a cabinet mounted stationary hinge part; a movable hinge part pivotally mounted on the stationary hinge part and connected for conjunctive vertical swinging movement with a cabinet lid; and a counter balance assembly including an adjustable compression spring arranged to bear adjacent its opposite ends on the hinge parts for establishing a moment tending to essentially counter balance torque effects of gravity on the lid throughout substantially the whole of the vertical swinging movements thereof.

United States Patent 1191 Little 1 Oct. 23, 1973 [54] LID COUNTERBALANCEMECHANISM 1,293,647 I 4/1969 Germany 16/19() I 784,406 5/1968 Canada16/190 [75] Jamesmwn, 1,144,619 2/1963 Germany 16/190 [73] Assignee:Weber-Knapp Company,

Jamestown PrimaryExaminen-Bernard A. Gelak [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971Assistant ExaminerPeter A. Aschenbrenner [2 A 1 NO 199 586 AttorneyJohnB. Bean et al.

[52] U.S. Cl 16/190, 16/1 C, 16/85 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl E051 l/12[58] Field of Search 16/191 1 c 180 A balance mechamsm a Cabme 16,141142 1 mounted stationary hinge part; a movable hinge part pivotallymounted on the stationary hinge part and [56] References Cited connectedfor conjunctive vertical swinging movement with a cabinet lid; and acounter balance assembly in- UNITED STATES PATENTS cluding an adjustablecompression spring arranged to 3,187,374 6/1965 Lund ell 16/190 bearadjacent its opposite ends on the hinge parts for gir establishing amoment tending to essentially counter 2259970 10/1941 C UX balancetorque effects of gravity on the lid throughout 3496595 2/1970 Larson[190 X substantially the whole of the vertical swinging moveme ts f.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,121,380 7/1968 England 16/190 8Claims, 4 Drawing Figures T' l a I ,we Li 41 0 v I a}, xiii i ft\ I1 5 1,3; KL-p PATENTED BET 2 3 I975 INVENTOR. CARL H. L/T TLE 1 upCOUNTERBALANCE MECHANISM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventionis generally directed towards a mechanism for counter balancing thetorque effects of gravity on vertically swinging cabinet lids. Morespecifically, the mechanism includes a stationary hinge part adapted tobe fixed to a cabinet; a movable hinge part mounted on the stationaryhinge part for pivotal movement about an essentially horizontallydisposed first axis; a compression spring; and an assembly for couplingthe spring to the hinge parts to establish a moment tending to counterbalance gravity induced torque effects on a cabinet lid with which themovable hinge part is connected for conjunctive vertical swingingmovements. The assembly includes a connector having a bore opening; ahinge pin for supporting the connector on the stationary hinge part forrelative movement about an axis disposed essentially normal to the boreopening and parallel to the first axis; a constraining member carriedfor vertical tilting movements relative to the movable hinge part; abolt having one end extending freely through the constraining member andhaving another end rotatably supported within the bore opening; and aplate threadedly carried by the bolt adjacent the connector, whereby topermit adjustments of the plate lengthwise of the bolt. The spring is inthe form of a coil type compression spring arranged essentiallyconcentrically of the bolt to bear adjacent its opposite ends on theplate and constraining member, such that displacements of the plateeffect the degree to which the spring is compressed. Thelid to becounter balanced may be carried directly on the movable hinge part.Alternatively, the lid may be independently hinge connected to thecabinet and movably coupled to the movable hinge part.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the connector is formed withaguide extension, which is arranged essentially parallel to the rod forsliding engagement with the plate, thereby to permit displacements ofthe plate to be effected by rotations of the bolt. A preferredconstruction would additionally feature the provision of a frictionbrake shoe, which is arranged for frictional engagement with the rod;the brake shoe dampening movements of the movable hinge part as afunction of spring compression variations of the spring incident tomovable hinge positional changes.

' DRAWINGS The nature and mode of the present invention will now be morefully described in the following detailed description taken withtheaccompanying drawings wherein: R

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the mechanism of the presentinvention employed as a combination lid hinge and counter balancesupport;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, butwith lids attached;

.FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along line 3--3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made particularly to FIGS. 1 and2, wherein the mechanism of the present invention is generallydesignated as l l). Mechanism includes a stationary or base hinge part12, which is to be suitably fixed to a cabinet-,not shown; a movablehinge part 14 for supporting a cabinet opening covering lid 16; acounter balance and motion snubbing assembly 18; and a hinge pin 20 forsupporting hinge part 14 on hinge part 12, whereby lid 16 is supportedfor vertical swinging movements from an essentially horizontallydisposed lid closed position into an essentially vertically disposed lidopened position. If desired, a second movable hinge part 22 may also bemounted on hinge pin 20 for the purpose of independently supporting asecond or rear service cabinet opening covering lid 24. However, thepresence of hinge part 22 or lid 24 is not necessarily a part of thepresent construction. Also, for any given installation, one or more ofmechanisms 10 may be employed, depending on the weight and/or dimensionsof lid 16.

As will be apparent from viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper end ofstationary hinge part 12 is bifurcated in construction, thereby todefine parallel side flange members 26 to which are joined parallelinset side flange members 26'; members 26 being formed with alignedbearing openings for receiving opposite ends of hinge pin 20 and member26' being formed with aligned bearing openings for receiving oppositeends of a second hinge pin 30. Moreover, rearwardly facing surfaces offlange members 26 are shaped to define shoulder abutments or stops 32,only one being shown in FIG. 2.

Movable hinge part 14 is of generally inverted U- shaped cross sectionalconfiguration including a top or connecting flange portion 36 and a pairof identically configured depending leg flange portions 38. As will beapparent from viewing FIG. 3, leg flange portions 38 are formed adjacenttheir forward ends with aligned cutouts 40 for use in supporting thefront end of assembly 18 whereas the rear ends of the leg flangeportions are formed with aligned apertures to receive hinge pin 20 andadapted to .engage with shoulder abutments 32 to define the full openingposition of lid 16, which is shown in'phantom line in FIG. 2. Cutouts 40are preferably formed with arcuate notches 40a. Hinge part 14 may besuitably fixed to lid 16, as by fastener devices, not shown, whichextend through side flanges 38a carried by each of leg flange portions38, thereby insuring conjunctive vertical swinging movements of thehinge part and lid. However, for installations where the lid isindependently supported on the cabinet by a separate hinge, hinge part14 may be movably coupled to the lid to provide for conjunctivemovements.

Assembly 18 is best shown in FIG. 2 as including a coil type compressionspring 42, which is arranged concentrically of a stepped-diameter bolt46 having a screw threaded intermediate portion 48. Spring 42 isarranged to bear adjacent its opposite ends on a spring plate oradjustment nut 50 threaded onto bolt portion 48 and a retainer disc orthe like 52; retainer 52 in turn bearing on one end of a resilientlydeformable, plastic brake shoe 54, which is arranged concentrically ofand in frictional engagement with the front end portion of bolt 46. Theforwardly facing end of shoe 54 is arranged in engagement with theconverging inner or bearing walls 55 of a through bored, cup shapedmember 56, which is in turn received within opening 58 of a U-shapedmounting plate 60 by which assembly 18 is constrained relative to ormounted on hinge part 14. The specific construction of shoe 54 forms nopart of the present invention; such shoe having been previouslydescribed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,374. It is believedsufficient for the understanding of the present invention to note thatthe snubbing" action of shoe 54 on rod 46 dampens movement of lid 16 asa function of the compression variations of spring 42 incident to lidpositional changes.

Opposite ends of mounting plate 60 are formed with dimpled ears 62, onlyone being shown in FIG. 3, which extend outwardly through cutouts 40 forreceipt in notches 40a, thereby to support and constrain the forward endof assembly 18 on leg flange portions 38 for relative vertical pivotingor tilting movements. As will be apparent from viewing FIG. 2, bolt 46passes freely through member 56 and mounting plate opening 58, and thusis free to reciprocate, tilt and undergo rotary adjustment movementsrelative to hinge part 14. If desired, plate 60 may be formed as anintegral part of hinge part 14 and the bolt freed for tilting movementsrelative thereto by permitting member 56 to tilt within opening 58.Also, a suitable hinge pin arrangement may be employed to pivotallysupport plate 60.

The rear end portion of bolt 46 is rotatably received with a boreopening 64 formed in a connector 66; the latter being mounted forpivotal movement by second hinge pin 30 thereby serving to constrainassembly 18 relative to hinge part 12. Connector 66 is fonned with aguide extension or finger 68 arranged to extend codirectionally withbore opening 64. Spring plate 50 is formed with a top edge opening slot70, which is dimensioned to slideably receive guide extension 68. Thisconstruction is preferred in that it permits rotations of bolt 46 toproduce reciprocating movements of plate 50 lengthwise of the bolt forthepurpose of adjustably varying the extent to which spring 42 isinitially compressed, whereby permitting adjustments of thecounterbalancing effect of the mechanism on lid 16. Alternatively, ifspace considerations permit the insertion of a tool, not shown, for thepurpose of constraining rotations of plate 50, guide extension 68 may bedispensed with. Also, if desired, the components of assembly 18 may bereversed, such that connector 66 is through bored to slideably receiverod 46 and plate 60 serves as an end bearing for the rod.

When lid 16 is in its closed position illustrated in full line in FIG.2, spring 42 is subject to maximum compression, as determined by prioradjustments of spring plate 50; the spring establishing a moment tendingto pivot the lid into open position.

The snubbing action," which is produced by frictional engagement of shoe54 with rod 46 always opposes movement of lid 16, and thus alternatelyacts in opposition to and in conjunction with spring 42 during openingand closing movements of the lid, respectively. Thus, the snubbingaction cooperates with the spring to define a counter balance envelopefor the lid. When the gravity produced torque curve of lid 16 fallswithin its envelope, the lid is balanced" and prevented from coastingtowards either of its open or closed positions. However, when forinstance a portion of the torque curve of the lid is disposed about itsenvelope, as is preferred during the last to of lid closing movement,the lid is not balanced" and gravity is permitted to force same into atightly closed position.

In the preferred construction, the moment of spring 42 acting alone ispreferably matched as close as possible to the gravity produced torquecurve of the lid, and

the snubbing" action of the brake shoe employed to compensate for anycounter balancing deficiencies in the patterning of the spring moment aswell as to prevent coasting of the lid. However, when the spring momentcan be properly matched ,with the lid torque curve and/or coasting ofthe lid is not objectionable, the brake shoe may be eliminated.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for use in counter balancing the weight of a lidsupported on a cabinet for vertical swinging movements between closedand open positions, said mechanism comprising;

a stationary hinge part adapted to be fixed to said cabinet;

a movable hinge part;

means for pivotally connecting said movable hinge part to saidstationary hinge part for vertical swinging movements relative to saidcabinet about an essentially horizontal hinge axis, said movable hingepart being adapted to be coupled to said lid for conjunctive verticalswinging movements when said movable hinge part is swung about saidhinge axis;

first and second constraining means supported for vertical pivotalmovements on said stationary hinge part and said movable hinge part,respectively;

a bolt carried by said first and second constraining means to extendessentially transversely of said hinge axis, one of said first andsecond constraining means providing a rotary end bearing support for oneend of said bolt, an other of said first and second constraining meansproviding a rotary and slide support for an other end of said bolt, saidbolt having a screw threaded portion arranged intermediate said firstand second constraining means; plate member threadedly received on saidbolt threaded portion; and compression spring arranged to bear adjacentopposite ends thereof on said plate member and said other of said firstand second constraining means, whereby movement of said plate memberaxially of said bolt threaded portion varies compression of said spring,said spring establishing a moment tending to at least substantiallycounter balance the torque effects of gravity on said lid throughoutsubstantially the whole of the vertical swinging movements thereof.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said movable hinge part isadapted to be fixedly connected to said lid.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein friction means are providedfor dampening movements of said movable hinge part as a function ofcompression variations of said spring incident to movable hinge partpositional changes, said friction means bearing in engagement with saidbolt and being arranged intermediate for engagement by said spring andsaid other of said first and second constraining means.

4. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said one of said first andsecond constraining means includes a guide projection arranged to extendessentially parallel to said bolt, and said guide projection constrainssaid plate member from rotation, whereby upon rotations of said boltsaid plate member is moved axially of said bolt.

5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said one of said first andsecond constraining means is said first constraining means.

6. A mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein said one of said first andsecond constraining means constrains said plate member from rotationwrelative thereto, whereby upon rotation of said bolt relative to saidfirst and second constraining means said plate member is moved axiallyof said bolt to vary compression of said spring.

7. A mechanism for use in counter balancing the weight of a lidsupported on a cabinet for vertical swinging movements between closedand open positions, said mechanism comprising:

a stationary hinge part adapted to be fixed to said cabinet;

a movable hinge part;

means for pivotally connecting said movable hinge part to saidstationary hinge part for vertical swinging movements relative to saidcabinet about an essentially horizontal hinge axis, said movable hingepart being adapted to be coupled to said lid for' conjunctive verticalswinging movements when said movable hinge part is swung about saidhinge axis;

first and second constraining means supported for vertical pivotalmovements on said stationary hinge part and said movable hinge part,respectively;

a bolt carried by said first and second constraining means to extendessentially transversely of said hinge axis, one of said first andsecond constraining means providing a rotary end bearing support for oneend of said bolt, an other of said first and second constraining meansproviding a rotary and slide support for an other end of said bolt anddefining a bearing surface;

friction means arranged for frictional engagement with said bolt, saidfriction means having one end thereof arranged in engagement with saidbearing surface;

plate means fixed to said bolt adjacent said one end of said bolt foradjustable movements axially thereof; and

a compression spring arranged to bear adjacent opposite ends thereof onsaid plate means and an opposite end of said friction means whereby saidfriction means is biased into engagement with said bearing surface anddirected thereby into frictional surface engagement with said bolt andwhereby adjustable movements of said plate means axially of said boltvaries compression of said spring, and said spring and said frictionmeans cooperating to establish a moment for counter balancing the torqueeffects of gravity on said lid throughout substantially the whole of thevertically swinging movements thereof.

8. A mechanism for use in counter balancing the weight of a lidsupported on a cabinet for vertical swinging movements between closedand open positions, said mechanism comprising:

a stationary hinge part adapted to be fixed to said cabinet;

a movable hinge part;

means for pivotally connecting said movable hinge part to saidstationary hinge part for vertical swinging movements relative to saidcabinet about an essentially horizontal hinge axis, said movable hingepart being adapted to be coupled to said lid for conjunctive verticalswinging movements when said movable hinge part is swung about saidhinge axis;

first and second constraining means supported for vertical pivotalmovements on said stationary hinge part and said movable hinge part,respectively;

a bolt carried by said first and second constraining means to extendessentially transversely of said hinge axis, one of said first andsecond constraining means being formed with a bore opening forrotatively receiving one end of said bolt and forming an end bearingsupport therefor, an other of said first and second constraining meansproviding a rotary and slide support for an other end of said bolt, saidbolt having a screw threaded portion arranged intermediate said firstand second constraining means;

a plate member threadedly received on said bolt threaded portion, saidone of said first and second constraining means slidably engaging saidplate member for constraining said plate member for rotation relativethereto,'whereby upon rotation of said bolt said plate member is forcedto move axially of said bolt threaded portion; and

a compression spring arranged to bear adjacent opposite ends thereof onsaid plate member and said other of said first and second constrainingmeans, whereby movement of said plate member axially of said boltthreaded portion varies compression of said spring, said springestablishing a moment tending to at least substantially counter balancethe torque effects of gravity on said lid throughout substantially thewhole of the vertical swinging movements thereof.

1. A mechanism for use in counter balancing the weight of a lidsupported on a cabinet for vertical swinging movements between cloSedand open positions, said mechanism comprising; a stationary hinge partadapted to be fixed to said cabinet; a movable hinge part; means forpivotally connecting said movable hinge part to said stationary hingepart for vertical swinging movements relative to said cabinet about anessentially horizontal hinge axis, said movable hinge part being adaptedto be coupled to said lid for conjunctive vertical swinging movementswhen said movable hinge part is swung about said hinge axis; first andsecond constraining means supported for vertical pivotal movements onsaid stationary hinge part and said movable hinge part, respectively; abolt carried by said first and second constraining means to extendessentially transversely of said hinge axis, one of said first andsecond constraining means providing a rotary end bearing support for oneend of said bolt, an other of said first and second constraining meansproviding a rotary and slide support for an other end of said bolt, saidbolt having a screw threaded portion arranged intermediate said firstand second constraining means; a plate member threadedly received onsaid bolt threaded portion; and a compression spring arranged to bearadjacent opposite ends thereof on said plate member and said other ofsaid first and second constraining means, whereby movement of said platemember axially of said bolt threaded portion varies compression of saidspring, said spring establishing a moment tending to at leastsubstantially counter balance the torque effects of gravity on said lidthroughout substantially the whole of the vertical swinging movementsthereof.
 2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said movable hingepart is adapted to be fixedly connected to said lid.
 3. A mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein friction means are provided for dampeningmovements of said movable hinge part as a function of compressionvariations of said spring incident to movable hinge part positionalchanges, said friction means bearing in engagement with said bolt andbeing arranged intermediate for engagement by said spring and said otherof said first and second constraining means.
 4. A mechanism according toclaim 1, wherein said one of said first and second constraining meansincludes a guide projection arranged to extend essentially parallel tosaid bolt, and said guide projection constrains said plate member fromrotation, whereby upon rotations of said bolt said plate member is movedaxially of said bolt.
 5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein saidone of said first and second constraining means is said firstconstraining means.
 6. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein saidone of said first and second constraining means constrains said platemember from rotation relative thereto, whereby upon rotation of saidbolt relative to said first and second constraining means said platemember is moved axially of said bolt to vary compression of said spring.7. A mechanism for use in counter balancing the weight of a lidsupported on a cabinet for vertical swinging movements between closedand open positions, said mechanism comprising: a stationary hinge partadapted to be fixed to said cabinet; a movable hinge part; means forpivotally connecting said movable hinge part to said stationary hingepart for vertical swinging movements relative to said cabinet about anessentially horizontal hinge axis, said movable hinge part being adaptedto be coupled to said lid for conjunctive vertical swinging movementswhen said movable hinge part is swung about said hinge axis; first andsecond constraining means supported for vertical pivotal movements onsaid stationary hinge part and said movable hinge part, respectively; abolt carried by said first and second constraining means to extendessentially transversely of said hinge axis, one of said first andsecond constraining means providing a rotary end bearing support for oneend of said bolt, an other of saiD first and second constraining meansproviding a rotary and slide support for an other end of said bolt anddefining a bearing surface; friction means arranged for frictionalengagement with said bolt, said friction means having one end thereofarranged in engagement with said bearing surface; plate means fixed tosaid bolt adjacent said one end of said bolt for adjustable movementsaxially thereof; and a compression spring arranged to bear adjacentopposite ends thereof on said plate means and an opposite end of saidfriction means whereby said friction means is biased into engagementwith said bearing surface and directed thereby into frictional surfaceengagement with said bolt and whereby adjustable movements of said platemeans axially of said bolt varies compression of said spring, and saidspring and said friction means cooperating to establish a moment forcounter balancing the torque effects of gravity on said lid throughoutsubstantially the whole of the vertically swinging movements thereof. 8.A mechanism for use in counter balancing the weight of a lid supportedon a cabinet for vertical swinging movements between closed and openpositions, said mechanism comprising: a stationary hinge part adapted tobe fixed to said cabinet; a movable hinge part; means for pivotallyconnecting said movable hinge part to said stationary hinge part forvertical swinging movements relative to said cabinet about anessentially horizontal hinge axis, said movable hinge part being adaptedto be coupled to said lid for conjunctive vertical swinging movementswhen said movable hinge part is swung about said hinge axis; first andsecond constraining means supported for vertical pivotal movements onsaid stationary hinge part and said movable hinge part, respectively; abolt carried by said first and second constraining means to extendessentially transversely of said hinge axis, one of said first andsecond constraining means being formed with a bore opening forrotatively receiving one end of said bolt and forming an end bearingsupport therefor, an other of said first and second constraining meansproviding a rotary and slide support for an other end of said bolt, saidbolt having a screw threaded portion arranged intermediate said firstand second constraining means; a plate member threadedly received onsaid bolt threaded portion, said one of said first and secondconstraining means slidably engaging said plate member for constrainingsaid plate member for rotation relative thereto, whereby upon rotationof said bolt said plate member is forced to move axially of said boltthreaded portion; and a compression spring arranged to bear adjacentopposite ends thereof on said plate member and said other of said firstand second constraining means, whereby movement of said plate memberaxially of said bolt threaded portion varies compression of said spring,said spring establishing a moment tending to at least substantiallycounter balance the torque effects of gravity on said lid throughoutsubstantially the whole of the vertical swinging movements thereof.